Going back trucking with PTL

Delivered my first half of this load of lights with no problem. I then went an fueled at the Love's in W Memphis,AR. I had gotten a QC message that I need to pick up a new truck insuraance card before Friday. So I decided to stop at our W Memphis,AR lot to pick one up. MISTAKE. I come in and they put me and the trailer OOS. They said I have a rear differantial leak and the trailer needs a PM.

They get working on the truck after about a half hour and there is no leak. But they did update my Navigo to the latest maps. They did the trailer PM and also added the PTL logo and trailer# on the doors since they were missing ( the doors had been replaced).

I call my FM, he's not there but I get his boss. I ask if I should go and deliver tonight or wait till the AM as this does not have an appointment shown and it is getting late. He calls the consignee and we agree to bring it in the AM since this is a load of lights for a building project. So I get to spend the night at the W Memphis yard.

 

Delivered the other half of the light fixtures to Jonesboro, AR. They went to a construction site for a new Kroger. It was a very different type of unload.

My next PP is picking up in Newport, AR about 50 miles away at 1430. The roads were all 2 lane with 25 mph curves loads of fun. I get to the pickup at 1000 and the shipping clerk said nothings going, so back into door 10. After about 30 minutes i had a 22000lb load of tortilla chips going to University Park, IL to a Sam's DC with an appointment for Saturday at 0615. Only Sam's makes appts. like that.

I am at the Salem,IL rest area on I57 about 220 miles from my delivery. I plan on a very slow Friday and go to the Petro at the same exit as my delivery so hopefully I can get over there without starting my clock.

While sitting here these 2 pickups pull up next to me and they are pulling trailers with beehives in them. When they left the left without a bunch of their bees. About 2 hours after they are gone there are still bees buzzing around. Need to keep all windows shut tight.

 

This morning when I got up and walked around the trailer I noticed one tire that looked like the retread was coming off. I figured it must be OK as they did an inspection on the trailer 2 days ago. So I take off down the road and about 150 miles later that tire retread did come off. so I was stuck on the road about 2 hours while they sent someone out to fix it.

This load delivers tomorrow at 0615. I asked my FM if I could go in early. He checked and said it should be OK. I go to the guard and he says nope come back tomorrow 0515 the earliest. So I go to the Petro down the road for the night.

 

So I go to deliver the load I get there at 0530. The guard tells me I'm scheduled for tomorrow 6/1 I say WHAT. He tells me to go ask the shipping clerk if they can take me early. She says yes they will work me in. Get done there and aleady got my next PP. Picking up in Cicero, IL yuk at a scrap metal place and going to Huntingdon, TN for a 0700 appt on 6/2 yuk again.

Get to the pickup and it's just as I expected a real Charley Foxtrot. At least there is a guy directing trucks in and out. What a tight squeeze to get to the dock inside a building. I get loaded with 42K of aluminum wire. I finally take off and the plan is to stop in Murray for a new spare tire. But my truck had different plans. I get 18 miles away and the temperature get so hot in the engine that it derates and shuts down. I open the hood to antifrezze everywhere and pouring out of a hose that is for the APU. The hose had fallen down and got cut by the fan. So i call Road assit and they send a tow truck he takes an hour and a half to get there. We decide the best thing is to cut the hose and tie it up with zip-ties closed. After that gets done and 6 gals of antifreeze later I sit and wait for him to bring the paper to sign. He finally comes over and says they are sending a Com Check express code to give to him for $496. That's ridiculous. Finally get going again and scaled the load, stopped to get something to eat and stopped at a rest area 313 miles from Murray.

I don't have a working APU any more so hopefully I can sleep. I will idle if it gets too hot.

 

That would be great. I am tired of doing it all by myself. Good Luck.

 

Got to Murray this morning. Gave up my load (it has 50 miles left on it). Truck in line for the shop, I was #12 now down to #6 in line. Asked the service manager what to do about no APU he said to idle if needed. Rhe trailer also went in the shop the tire that blew messed up the mud flap bracket.

I'm a little worried about getting out of here, talked to a few drivers and they are either waiting for a load out or to get in the shop.